Clinging Fingerfruit

This short fruit tree grows up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall and lives for up to 20 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 49 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a flexible, wonky trunk covered in hard, cracked, burgundy bark, and inside, the light wood is pale brown-grey.

The sparse amount of branches are tall, rigid and upright and are covered with thick bunches of large, finger-like leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are orange on the edges and copper at the center.

In early spring, it produces lots of large, blue blossoms with finger-like petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are hardy and have a delicate scent that smells like baby powder.

In early summer it produces , broad, flat fruit. The sticky azure skin is peel-able and inedible, and the slightly crunchy hazel flesh is spicy and sticky. The ashy red seeds are small and are located in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are thick and spread across the surface, as well as underground, and overall the tree is sturdy and difficult to uproot.

Forests of this species feature trees spaced far apart, with clear space between them.